Tsubakimoto Chain Company

Yoshihito Shimanaka

Eiichi Nakagawa

To provide a simple-structured selectable clutch that can be switched between operating modes, has high responsiveness, allows a desired torque capacity to be secured, causes less rattling and noise, and allows for switching with a small force even when transmitting a large torque. The clutch includes a first clutch mechanism configured to transmit rotation at any rotation angle via movable and/or rotatable locking members disposed between a first rotating element and a second rotating element, a second clutch mechanism configured to transmit rotation at a predetermined angle by engagement between a first engaging element and a second engaging element, and an operating mechanism for switching the actions of at least the first clutch mechanism and/or second clutch mechanism. The clutch is configured to allow switching between transmission and interruption of torque between relatively rotatable first and second shafts.

Selectable clutch

Provided is a cam clutch that prevents occurrence of cam jamming. The cam clutch includes a first contact surface member () and a second contact surface member () that have cam contact surfaces respectively which come into contact with a first cam () and a second cam () that are engaged with an outer race () and an inner race () in mutually different directions. The first contact surface member () and the second contact surface member () are provided at different positions in a rotation axis direction and configured to be independently movable in a circumferential direction relative to an outer race main body (). The outer race main body () has a first movement restricting portion () and a second movement restricting portion () that restrict the movement of the first contact surface member () and the second contact surface member () in respective locking directions.

Cam clutch

To provide a cam clutch that allows use of the outer race as a rotating member without requiring a complex structure, and that allows a size reduction in the axial direction. The cam clutch includes an operating mode switch mechanism () for switching between two or more of a free state that allows relative rotation in both directions, a one-way clutch mode that allows relative rotation in one of forward and reverse directions, and a locked state that prohibits relative rotation in both directions. The operating mode switch mechanism () includes a cam orientation changing part () axially movable independently of rotation of the inner race () and the outer race (). A plurality of cams () include an engaging portion () protruding from a side face toward the cam orientation changing part ().

An object of the present invention is to provide a one-way clutch capable of preventing wear on radially inner engagement surfaces and radially outer engagement surfaces of cams in periods of high-speed freewheeling. The one-way clutch includes an inner race () and an outer race (), a plurality of cams () provided between the inner race () and the outer race (), and side plates () provided to at least one of the inner race () and outer race () and positioned on both sides in an axial direction of the cams (). The plurality of cams () are each configured to receive a predetermined centrifugal force to turn in an engaging direction in which the cams engage the inner race () and outer race () when the inner race () and outer race () rotate together in the same direction.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Yoshihito Shimanaka